Genie (2023)

User Review

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  ScreenZealots

  5 / 10

  The predictable but cute “Genie” is definitely much better than the garbage I expected it to be, which I realize doesn’t sound like the greatest compliment. This pleasantly predictable Christmas movie certainly lacks depth and sophistication, but director Sam Boyd makes up for it with a bounty of heartfelt good cheer that’s probably enough to make the majority of the film’s target audience happy. This isn’t going to be something you remember years later, but pop this on while you’re wrapping gifts and it’ll prove to be a fun companion for a few hours.
  
  Things are unraveling for Bernard (Paapa Essiedu) after he misses his daughter Eve’s (Jordyn McIntosh) birthday, which makes his wife (Denée Benton) ready to call it quits. Flora (Melissa McCarthy) is a genie who has been trapped in a box for 2,000 years. When she is accidentally summoned by the busy businessman, Flora is confused by the modern world but also ready to help Bernard turn his life around. The pair soon find themselves in an unexpected friendship that’s filled with a little bit of holiday magic.
  
  The story is conventional but not bad, and McCarthy and Essiedu make a decent on screen pair. She’s so talented that she makes the movie a lot better than it would be otherwise, and the pratfall goofs are well-balanced with earned attempts at humor. Of course, you have to overlook a lot of plot points and not ask too many questions, like how is a genie who has been trapped for two millennia fluent in modern slang and understand pop culture references, yet have no idea what pizza and hand sanitizer are? As viewers are often asked to do when watching films like this, it’s best to shrug, give a little “meh?,” and just go with it. You’ll have a much better time if that’s your game plan.
  
  Those looking for some Christmas charm that’s not too challenging could do a whole lot worse than “Genie.” I’m not saying this is a great movie, nor that it is destined to become a holiday classic, but it’s cute enough that it would make a better-than-disposable choice for a family holiday movie night.
  
  By: Louisa Moore for Screen Zealots

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